NOVEL WEB Chapter 46: The Intricacies of the Human World
As Ling Yi returned to Green Leaf Junior Soul Master Academy, he was warmly greeted from all sides. With a smile, he responded to each greeting, accurately recalling everyone’s name and class, while engaging in small talk about recent happenings.
Though the journey from the academy's entrance to dorm room 304 in Building No. 3 was just over two kilometers, it took Ling Yi nearly half the time it took to get back from the Golden Geng Blacksmith to the Green Leaf Junior Soul Master Academy.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the necessity of balancing work and rest, and allowing both body and mind a chance to relax, Ling Yi wouldn't have felt inclined to spend time on social interactions.
In his previous life, Ling Yi was the type who avoided social functions unless it involved close friends. If he couldn't evade an event, he'd reluctantly attend, opting to quietly eat and drink in a corner, watching others debate history and discuss various topics.
Rather than these events, wouldn't it be more meaningful to seek out some young women, learn from them the specialized knowledge they've acquired at school, thus enriching his own mind and broadening his horizons?
Having witnessed much through both personal experience and the internet in his past life, Ling Yi understood that many social connections were, in fact, meaningless. It was rare to gain valuable insight or any kind of positive feedback from fair-weather friends, and in times of trouble, few of these people would truly lend a helping hand.
Of course, this is the nature of humanity, and Ling Yi doesn't scorn it. After all, when faced with their own troubles, these friends too might hesitate, weighing the decision to help an outsider. In a detached society, it's common even among close relations to limit one’s sacrifices. Thus, whenever genuine affection is observed, people can’t help but marvel and aspire, reminding themselves of the beauty that still exists in the world.
In this life, on the Douluo Continent with its extraordinary powers, Ling Yi believed that if one's talent were high enough–even without an innate full soul power or twin spirits–even an innate level five soul power wouldn't compel him to engage much in social activities. A simple smile and greeting to maintain a positive image would suffice.
As the saying goes, when you're truly excellent and strong, everyone around you becomes a good person.
If Ling Yi possessed innate fifth-level soul power and was part of the Green Leaf Junior Soul Master Academy, he would be the pride of his teachers and a model for his classmates. By simply maintaining a humble demeanor and treating others with respect, his relationships would naturally flourish, and he would enjoy high praise from the outside world.
However, the reality was that Ling Yi only had a mere half-level of innate soul power, coupled with the true "Waste Martial Spirit" known as Blue Silver Grass, marking him as just a simple rural boy.
The positive recognition that geniuses could achieve effortlessly required Ling Yi's full exertion to strive for and maintain, only to barely attain it.
In the eyes of many gifted individuals, in the Douluo Continent where strength is paramount, interpersonal relationships may seem trivial and useless; only power is considered real and reliable.
Although this notion isn’t incorrect, it does not apply to those at the bottom.
For people whose individual power cannot sway the whole, the best choice is to unite all possible forces.
Humans are social creatures.
Even a titled Douluo lives in this real world. They have parents and families who bore and raised them, along with friends and comrades who accompany them throughout their growth journey. Ultimately, they also have children and descendants to care for.
Living in this world, unless one cuts all ties to mundane relationships, there are always a few individuals who can touch your heart.
Much like in the original timeline, individuals such as Dugu Bo and Qian Daoliu serve as typical examples.
Arrogant as Dugu Bo may be, before his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, he is nothing more than an ordinary old man.
Similarly, Qian Daoliu, who had secluded himself from the world for decades, erupted in fury and left his retreat to hunt down Tang Hao across the continent when his son, Qian Xunji, was killed.
Yet, due to his bond with his granddaughter Qian Renxue, he could not bear to lay a hand on Bibi Dong, the one who had personally killed Qian Xunji.
As for whether Qian Daoliu felt any guilt over the misdeeds Qian Xunji had inflicted on Bibi Dong, perhaps there was some, but in the moment of his son's death, when anger flared in his heart, would he consider such things?
In the original timeline, the three great Limit Douluos each had their own attachments: Qian Daoliu was bound to Qian Renxue and the Spirit Hall; Tang Chen was connected to Bo Saixi and the Clear Sky Sect, and Bo Saixi's ties were to Tang Chen and the Sea God's inheritance on Sea God Island.
As for Ling Yi, aware of his own weakness, he can only transform passivity into initiative by actively engaging with these intricate threads, weaving them into an orderly net that can shield and sustain him.
While most teachers and classmates at the academy may not offer substantial aid in the future, they are still individual threads within this vast net of life.
Through these individual threads, Ling Yi's meticulously crafted image of excellence can further expand outward.
Having been overwhelmed by a sea of information in his past life, Ling Yi understands well that possessing a good reputation and image is extremely beneficial when one's strength is lacking.
Ling Yi entered Room 304 with a gentle push of the door.
“Yi Brother—”
“Yi Brother is back—”
Inside the dormitory, his classmates and roommates, who were cross-legged on their beds meditating and cultivating their soul power, opened their eyes and greeted him one after another upon seeing Ling Yi.
Ling Yi waved his hand, saying, “Continue your cultivation, I'm just here to pack up some things before I leave—”
With that, he headed straight to his bed.
There, in the expansive Room 304, in the farthest corner on the right, stood a conspicuous 'tent', about two meters high and wide, and nearly 2.2 meters long.
It was a Blue Silver Nest, woven meticulously from thriving strands of Blue Silver Grass, resembling a tent and enveloping Ling Yi's bed, creating a small, private space between the inside and the outside.
Ling Yi bent down and squeezed into his small hideout lined with blue silver grass. He retrieved a carefully prepared package, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to face Mo Yuan and the others, who had stopped meditating and gathered around him. "I've taken a few days off from the academy," he said, "I'm going out for about ten days. While I'm away, remember to study hard and don't slack off in your cultivation—"
Hearing Ling Yi's words, Mo Yuan and the others had expressions of envy, admiration, and reluctance. They all understood that Brother Yi was taking leave to seek his first spirit ring. When he returned, he would be a Spirit Master with his very first spirit ring!
"Brother Yi, don't worry! We'll definitely study hard and cultivate diligently!" Mo Yuan nodded vigorously, reassuringly declaring, "We won't slack off, nor will we fall too far behind you! You promised that we'd fight side by side in the future—!"
"Yeah, Brother Yi, when I become a Spirit Master, I'll definitely protect you—!"
"And me! Even though I don't know if I can become a Spirit Master like you, Brother Yi, I'll still do my best to cultivate and won't let myself fall too far behind—!" one after another, impassioned declarations echoed.
Ling Yi pat them each on the shoulder, leaving behind words of encouragement like "Keep up," "Work hard," "I'll wait for you," "You can do it"… Under their watchful gazes, he walked out of dormitory Room 304.
Exiting the academy, Ling Yi headed straight for the eastern city gate of Wood Plant City.
There, a rented carriage awaited him.
(End of Chapter)
